Malacanang welcomed the pronouncement of the Malaysian government that said it is working for the early turnover to Filipino authorities of alleged investment scam ringleader Manuel Amalilio.

Amalilio, facing charges in the Philippines, allegedly defrauded 15,000 investors from Mindanao and the Visayas of P12 billion.

He is the owner of Aman Futures Group Phil. Inc. who was earlier arrested in Kota Kinabalu.

“We welcome that statement. I understand that was conveyed by the Malaysian Foreign Minister to our Secretary of Foreign Affairs; at our DOJ, and the members of the NBI as well. The DFA will continue to work with their Malaysian counterparts to ensure the turnover of Mr. Amalilio to Philippine authorities,” Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday.

Valte also assured victims of Amalilio not to lose hope because the government is doing everything to bring him back to the Philippines so that justice could be served.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman told Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that he is strongly advocating the early turnover of Amalilio to the Philippine government.

The DFA said that Anifah also confirmed to the secretary the order of the Malaysian attorney general to freeze Amalilio’s assets in Malaysia.

Amalilio, who also uses a Malaysian name, was arrested by local authorities in Kota Kinabalu on January 25 and was charged early this month for possession of a fake Philippine passport.He was sentenced to two years in a Malaysian jail after pleading guilty to the offense.